Medical Spanish Certificate

The reality for many health care professionals is that Spanish is the first language of a large percentage of the population served. Today's medical professionals must adapt to meet the challenges that come with the growing demographic diversity in the health care population. These challenges are linguistic and cultural at their roots. This often requires that health care providers learn to communicate clearly and effectively with patients and their relatives in a second language.

Miscommunication and misunderstanding of critical information can impact everyday patient care, including matters of life and death. The ability to speak basic Spanish reduces the need for providers to enlist the services of an interpreter for common communication tasks and assists health care professionals in providing culturally sensitive care.

The introductory class, CMS I, II, and III all require the same two textbooks, which must be purchased online before the first class. Both by Jarvis, et al., both enhanced 2nd editions.

Basic Spanish (ISBN: 978-1-285-05208-3)

Basic Spanish for Medical Personnel (ISBN: 978-0-495-90266-9)

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Students with little to no background in Spanish are encouraged to take:

This course is for those who have little or no previous experience learning Spanish. Students will learn medical vocabulary and the most basic common expressions as they are applied in conversations. General focus is conversational Spanish based on learning the present tense of regular and some irregular verbs, prepositions, a, de, and other topics of grammar. We will also appreciate the Latin American culture through readings.

Two books are required for this class. They must purchased in advance and brought to the first class session.

Required Coursework:

The course is designed for students with some background in Spanish who would like to apply their Spanish in the medical setting. The course progressively merges grammar and health care terminology in the context of various medical settings. We will be focusing on dialogues, readings, and cultural notes. This course provides a foundation of knowledge and experience to the health care provider who wants to learn Spanish to facilitate better communication with the growing monolingual Hispanic community in the United States.

Two books are required for this class. They must purchased in advance and brought to the first class session.

Classes will be conducted almost exclusively in Spanish with a continued emphasis on conversation rather than grammar. We will be focusing on speaking through dialogues, readings, and cultural notes. Topics will include medical terminology and the applications of language to patient care with a focus on oral and listening comprehension. Students will be taught phrases and commands facilitating the completion of a physical assessment as well as everyday terms used in the clinical setting.

Two books are required for this class. They must purchased in advance and brought to the first class session.

This course is designed for students who have completed Conversational Medical Spanish I and II and are working toward a certificate in Medical Spanish. The class will be conducted exclusively in Spanish. It is designed to serve those in the medical professions who seek high conversational skills in Spanish. It presents everyday situations that medical students, pre-professionals, and professionals may encounter at their work settings when dealing with Spanish-speaking patients and personnel in the Unites States. Students learn through role-plays how to communicate and give instructions about very important health issues, from AIDS to drugs and drug addiction. Also, there will be different readings and discussions on Hispanic cultural notes.

Students who want to develop a higher level of proficiency may take:

This course is designed for students who have completed the three previous Conversational Medical Spanish courses and have completed studies of the highest grammar level of Spanish. The class will be conducted only in Spanish. It is designed to serve those in the medical professions who seek high conversational skills in Spanish aiming at the highest level of proficiency.

This course will present realistic situations in which students, pre-professionals, and professionals have the opportunity to continue improving their conversational skills by speaking at the highest level of proficiency with the most common words, verbal expressions, or colloquialisms. We will pay attention to specialized vocabulary and conversations for each medical profession. Students will be able to create and do role-playing, dialogue completions, monologues, translations and other activities such as how to communicate and give instructions about very important health issues in everyday life to Spanish-speaking patients, personnel in the United States, and when traveling abroad to Hispanic countries. Also, there will be readings that highlight Hispanic customs and traditions, and discussions on different health issues of interest. Throughout the conversations we will review, if necessary, any other topics of grammar.

Registrations will be processed upon receipt of payment. Payment is due in full (tuition and fees) in order to be enrolled in any course.

Register for a course at least four weeks prior to the scheduled start date and qualify for the $35 early bird transaction fee.

A regular transaction fee of $75 will apply to courses starting within four weeks of registration.

Important: By registering for any of the course offerings, you assume responsibility for all related tuition, registration fees, lab fees, and book fees. You also agree to our refund and cancellation policy.

REFUND AND CANCELLATION POLICY

Requests for cancellations and refunds are accepted in only in writing (email: sonce@bc.edu) at least four weeks prior to the start of the course. A refund is provided (less a $75 administrative fee per course). No refunds will be made for cancellations requested within four weeks of the start date of the course or for no-shows.

“A bilingual education is not only preferable in health care, but a necessity in my area. I can now strongly compete for the best job opportunities.”